Besides being the perfect sidekick to a good book; a break after a long day’s work and accompanying many a sweet delight, tea is just as good for the body as it is for the soul. We look at different types of herbal teas and their health benefits. 

Rooibos
Tasty, healthy and native to South Africa. Like green tea, you can enjoy a delicious cup with or without milk and sugar. Brewed using leaves from the Rooibos plant, it’s packed with antioxidants and is low on tannin. This sweet-tasting herbal tea is also caffeine free – which means children and breastfeeding mothers can drink it.   

“Rooibos and honeybush teas provide a natural, rich source of compounds beneficial to your health and people should see these herbal teas as part of a healthy, sensible lifestyle that could alleviate the risk of cancer, and reduce its possible extent,” says Dr Jeanine Marnewick, Cape Peninsula University of Technology.  

Ginger tea
Made from aromatic spice, ginger tea is delicious and a trusted go-to when you want a remedy for motion sickness and nausea. According to registered dietician, Brigitte Zeitlin, ginger root has medicinal properties and drinking ginger tea can bring forth alleviating properties as well.   

Ginger tea also helps with inflammation. “Drinking ginger tea can be wonderfully soothing, as it may not only help alleviate nausea, but it can also help control inflammation in the body because it contains the substances gingerol and shogaol,” says plant-based registered dietitian, Amy Gorin. 

Peppermint tea
Who needs coffee when you can sip a refreshing cup of peppermint tea? This delicious beverage, which can be enjoyed hot or cold, is made from the dried leaves of peppermint plants. One of its many benefits is the relief of headaches. “The type of headaches that peppermint tea usually helps with are those caused by poor eating habits or daily stress. In these cases, these headaches typically restrict the number of blood vessels that go to the brain, and peppermint tea has the ability to open them up, which can relieve the tension causing the headache,” explains certified holistic health coach Bianca Kamhi.   

Does a cup of mint tea keep the dentist away? Apparently so! According to Kamhi, peppermint tea can also curb bad breath. “Peppermint holds a number of antibacterial properties which can kill germs in your mouth. This – along with its pleasant and fresh smell – may help freshen your breath,” she says. 

Chamomile tea
Ready for a good night’s rest? Chamomile tea is known to help you relax and fall asleep easier. “Chamomile is a very gentle, supportive herb for all ages that you can consume daily,” says nutritionist and herbal educator, Lindsay Kluge. “The caffeine-free herb is an ideal sleep support because it doesn’t force your body into anything; it doesn’t knock you out, sedate you, or make you drowsy,” she further explains. So, snuggle up with a cosy blanket in bed and enjoy your warm cup of chamomile tea to kickstart your restful night. 

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It’s no secret that tea not only provides comfort, but holds healing properties as well. We’re diving into tea benefits and what it can do for your body and mind

Tea has been around for centuries and since the beginning, people have been taking advantage of its many benefits. Not only does tea calm, soothe, replenish and warm the body, but it also heals the mind.  Tea contains compounds called polyphenols, which are micro-nutrients that are naturally found in plants. Polyphenols are known to help maintain a stable blood pressure, working to keep your arteries healthy and clean, promoting circulation and reducing inflammation. This also leads to a lower risk of diabetes and cancer growth, and overall a longer and healthier life. Not looking at that cup of tea in the same way anymore, are you? Let’s take a look at a few different teas and understand the benefits each one can have.

Green tea
Green tea leaves are treated immediately after they are picked, preventing them from oxidising, which results in the leaves containing a high concentration of polyphenols. This means that green tea is the least processed tea, since it contains more antioxidant properties compared to oxidised teas such as black tea. Green tea also contains less caffeine than an oxidised tea. 

Matcha
Matcha is a kind of green tea that originated around the 8th century in China and is widely used in both Chinese and Japanese culture. It has recently been introduced into western culture and is often enjoyed as a latte, but is traditionally brewed with water. Matcha has a unique savoury, earthy taste, and many health benefits. It is also often used in cooking and baking to add extra depth to dishes.

Chamomile
Chamomile tea is made from dried chamomile flowers and is loved for the calming, relaxing and soothing effect it can have on the body and mind. This tea can help to aid in sleep difficulties, can reduce muscle spasms and even menstrual cramps. It also helps with anxiety as it contains no caffeine, making it the perfect drink to have before bed. What’s more, chamomile can be given to kids to help calm them down and send them dosing off into a night of peaceful sleep. 

Ginger tea
Ginger tea is brewed using the peeled and chopped ginger root. People usually consume ginger tea to help reduce nausea and ease pain as it also contains anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger also aids in digestion and is commonly consumed with a dash of cayenne pepper, squeeze of lemon and drop of honey to help soothe the symptoms of a cold and sore throat.

Rooibos
Grown only in South Africa, rooibos is a very versatile herbal, caffeine-free tea that yields itself to being mixed with many other flavours. This tea pairs well with a classic combination of milk and sugar, or in other tea varieties with vanilla and berries, or shines perfectly well on its own. Rooibos tea also contains polyphenols, which help with inflammation, pain and allergies, and even skin health. 

Jasmine tea
Interestingly, jasmine tea is made using green tea leaves and the blossoms of the jasmine bush, which then infuse their flavour into the tea. This means that jasmine tea has similar health benefits to normal green tea, just with a more floral taste. It’s a favourite for many to enjoy during teatime as it works well with sweet desserts. 

Buchu tea
Like rooibos, buchu is another incredible plant from South Africa. It has many wonderful qualities and properties that help with issues such as inflammation and stomach irritation, and is used as an antiseptic for urinary tract infections. The tea can be soothing and warm, and also contains no caffeine. Buchu is an incredible tea that traces back to the 16th century, used by the Khoisan people and later by settlers to help
aid in a number of different illnesses and ailments.

While there are various kinds of teas out there, the above-mentioned variants tend to be some of the the most popular. Whether you’re looking to unwind and warm up, soothe some cramps or calm your mind, tea will always be a kettle of boiling water away from making your day that much better. 

Words by Sjaan Van Der Ploeg

Looking to add extra nutrients and vital vitamins into your everyday life? Look no further than freshly squeezed (or blended) vegetable juice.

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Nothing says ‘celebration’ quite like bubbles. Raise a glass of these Champagne cocktails with chamomile and berries at your next gathering.

SERVES 2 // COOKING TIME 25 min

INGREDIENTS
For the chamomile syrup
3 chamomile tea bags
2 cups boiling water
1 cup sugar
1 cinnamon stick
2 tsp lemon zest
For the champagne cocktails
½ cup chamomile syrup
1 L sparkling wine, chilled
¾ cup berries of your choice

METHOD
For the chamomile syrup
1. Add all the ingredients to a pot over medium-high heat and boil for 4–5 minutes.
2. Squeeze all the excess liquid from the tea bags before discarding them. Then, boil again until reduced and a syrup has formed.
3. Remove from the heat and allow to cool completely.
For the champagne cocktails
1. Add 2–3 teaspoons of chamomile syrup to the bottom of each Champagne glass and top up with sparkling wine. Mix gently.
2. Top with some berries and serve.

Recipe: Chiara Turilli
Styling: Elizabeth Mackenzie
Photography: Jotham van Tonder // HMimages.co.za

For a slightly more casual shindig in the sun, try our summer bubbly ice lollies.

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These delicious honey and chamomile biscuits also have lavender in them, packing them with natural calming ingredients. With natural sugars, these biscuits make a lovely tea-time snack.

MAKES 25 // COOKING TIME 35 min

INGREDIENTS
1½ cups flour
2 tbsp camomile tea
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp baking powder
125 g unsalted butter, softened
½ cup honey
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla essence
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
Lavender, to decorate

METHOD
1. Preheat oven to 180°C and line a baking tray with baking paper.
2. Combine flour, tea, bicarb, salt and baking powder in a bowl. Grind any large pieces of tea between your fingers.
3. In a separate bowl, beat the butter until light. Add the honey and continue to beat until fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla, lemon zest and 1 tbsp lemon juice.
4. Slowly add dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until just combined.
5. Roll out the dough on a floured work surface to 3 mm thick. Use a round cutter to cut out biscuits. Arrange them on the baking tray, about 2 cm apart.
6. Bake for 10–12 minutes, until golden. Place on a cooling rack.
7. Decorate with lavender sprigs to serve. Store leftover biscuits in an airtight container.

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